Is the emergence of the zoonotic Langya virus amidst COVID-19 and monkeypox a cause for concern?

The catastrophic impacts of these infections highlight the necessity of strengthening one health approach-based disease surveillance system

some of the diagnosed cases did not reveal any indication of human-to-human transmission. Also, no aggregation of human cases were noticed. However, these numbers are small, and it is difficult to completely rule out current or future human-to-human transmission possibilities [13]. As we witnessed with COVID-19 and monkeypox, viruses are capable of rapid mutation, and human behaviours frequently affect the course of viral epidemics. It is, therefore, vital to focus on this epidemic and prevent the virus from spreading. Other than some reports of the activity of ribavirin and favipiravir on the Nipah virus, there are no approved drugs or vaccines for Henipaviruses [14]. There are no effective treatments for LayV. However, unlike Nipah and Hendra viruses, no fatality has yet been reported for LayV. There have been no effective vaccines for any of the Henipaviruses that can be used for LayV. The only sensible public health interventions at present are surveillance (human and animal) and restricting contact with affected animals.
Taiwan's health department is currently monitoring the spread of LayV near the China-Taiwan border by instituting standardized molecular assay-based diagnostics [15]. Nepal also shares a northern border with Tibet and China and has a trade relationship with the country. Agriculture and farming are significant sources of income and the economic backbone of Nepal, employing more than 66% of the population and accounting for a third of the GDP [16]. Farmers are considerably closer to their livestock, which is a vital source of sustenance. Furthermore, Nepal imports a significant number of small food animals, including sheep and goats, from China to accommodate rising demand during festival seasons, which might increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. Therefore, governing authorities must be vigilant on border screening and institute one health approach-based human and animal disease surveillance. A molecular-based assay must be accessible to diagnose such a possible infection in Nepal. Further, large-scale research is critically needed to investigate and comprehend the various components of this virus implicated in human illness, including the severity of infection and mechanism of transmission.
Globally, it is estimated that 70% of emerging infectious illnesses are transmitted to humans through interactions with animals as human populations expand into natural areas [17]. According to the CDC, more than six out of every ten recognized infectious diseases in humans can be spread from animals. Three of every four new or emerging infectious diseases impacting humans are zoonotic or of zoonotic origin [18]. The catastrophic impacts of these infections highlight the necessity of strengthening one health approach-based disease surveillance system. Early identification of outbreaks caused by new viruses and instituting the risk communication mechanisms will be key in preventing them from turning into pandemics [19].
To put things in perspective, amidst the two major viral outbreaks plaguing the world at present time, the emergence of a new virus belonging to a genus that houses the Nipah virus, one of the most fatal infections of all time, can be a cause of concern. Despite the possibility of severe manifestations in immunocompromised, it must be noted here that based on the current knowledge, LayV is not fatal. Although current evidence suggests that LayV is not transmitted from human-to-human, there is a possibility that the virus may evolve and acquire this trait. Nipah, for example, was not transmitted from human-to-human in the first outbreak described from Malaysia, but a high percentage of human-to-human transmission was described in India and Bangladesh in the latter outbreaks [20]. Therefore, there is a need for careful monitoring and surveillance, especially in China and neighboring countries, to understand the evolution of this outbreak. There is also a need for the development of appropriate diagnostics and research into possible treatment options for this disease. The clinical presentations overlap with COVID-19 but not with monkeypox. In areas with high transmission of COVID-19, it is easy to miss this infection. It is, therefore, important to test patients in China and neighbouring regions with a history of animal contact who present with fever and respiratory manifestations but are negative for COVID-19. reviewing. All authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
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